The actor Jude Law is at odds with conservationists over plans to create a
subterranean gym at his Grade II-listed London mansion.

The actor, 38, has submitted a detailed planning application to Camden Council, under his real name David Law, which included plans for a basement extension.

Law, who split up with his girlfriend Sienna Miller in February, is thought to be spending £500,000 on a series of alterations fit for a bachelor pad.

However, the influential Highgate Society plans to present its concerns to Camden Council in a bid to stop the building work.

Michael Hammerson, secretary of the Society, said the fashion for excavating basements was a worrying trend that could eventually affect water flow in the area - even preventing fresh water flowing into the ponds on Hampstead Heath.

He said: “We have the same reservations about this development as we do about all the other basement excavations around Hampstead and Highgate, the accumulation of which is going to be very damaging. There’s a complex network of underground water systems in this area and these sort of basements could divert them.”

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“It’s going to have a major cumulative effect on the way water drains to the Heath. It may also affect neighbours’ gardens and even their foundations. There’s also the general noise and disruption of that kind of building work.”

He added: “Why build a gym when you can just go and run around Hampstead Heath?”

There is already a basement at Mr Law’s property but this will be extended by excavating under the back garden terrace for the entire width of the house to create a ‘lightwell’ and gym area.

The £8m house is part of a terrace so the basement extension will reach the property lines of the plot of land. The Sherlock Holmes star also wants to create a sunken garden next to the new gym and to add solar panels to the roof.

The 1832 property will also boast a wine cellar.

The plans also aim to remove certain modern features added in recent years to “return the house to its original splendour” including a staircase, ‘modern’ doors and renovating the fireplaces.

Mr Law’s architect, Richard Keep, said the changes are justified as the current design ‘does not reflect the original layout’ of the building.

A source close to Mr Law said: “If permission is granted this involves a minimal amount of digging and nothing will happen that will adversely affect the environment and the surrounding area.”

Mr Hammerson said the society was also encouraging anyone building in the area to undertake historical excavation as part of any works.

He said: “The area Mr Law will be digging will have fairly significant archaeological implications for the local area, some of those houses date from the early 18th century and there may well be valuable archaeological information from that period or even earlier dates.

“It is important that we preserve that history,” he said.

“There is, of course, an open invitation to Mr Law to come and talk to the society about our concerns.”

Mr Law, who has three children from his marriage to fashion designer Sadie Frost and a daughter from a short relationship with American model Samantha Burke, bought the house in November while he was still dating Miss Miller.

Mr Law has now arranged to meet the Society after their concerns emerged.

A spokesman for him said: “Jude and his architect will be having a meeting with the Highgate Society to discuss the plans with them on his return from Cannes Film Festival to show them they have no need to have concerns. They (Highgate Society) just want to be in consultation with the process.”